NEWS HEADLINES

The driver of a vehicle involved in a wreck that killed an Alvord teenager last year won’t face prosecution.

Ralex Griffin

A Wise County grand jury Wednesday returned a no-bill in the case of Ralex Griffin, 24, of Arlington who was charged with criminal negligent homicide following an accident May 25, 2012, that claimed the life of 16-year-old Aisha Bryant.

A no-bill means the grand jury determined the evidence in the case does not warrant criminal prosecution.

Bryant was driving a 1994 Chevrolet S-10 Tahoe when she was struck from behind by Griffin’s Trailblazer SUV in the southbound lanes of U.S. 81/287 as she was headed to work in Decatur. The force of the impact forced Bryant’s vehicle into the median where it rolled, and Bryant was ejected. Her vehicle landed on top of a northbound Dodge Charger. The driver of the Charger and Griffin were uninjured.

Griffin was arrested at the scene. He was taken to the Wise County jail and charged with criminal negligent homicide, a state jail felony. Griffin posted a $10,000 personal recognizance bond the next day and was released.

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed by Bryant’s mother, Shonda Bryant Hall, on Jan. 24 of this year, according to information on file in the district clerk’s office in Decatur. Griffin is named as a defendant along with his employer, Liberty Proclaimed Ministry.

The lawsuit also names Shannon Lamar Mays as a defendant. The lawsuit alleges that Mays was in a vehicle that was northbound on U.S. 81/287 and struck both Bryant and her vehicle after the initial impact with Griffin’s vehicle.

Apparently, no alcohol was involved. We can only assume it was proven it was an accident. If we knew the facts presented to the grand jury we might understand. I remember reading some comments on facebook that explained how it happened and that it was an accident. I trust the grand jury’s decision.

So tragic to lose a life at such a young age with so much potential. Accident or not, he couldn’t have been paying attention to hit someone from behind with such an impact. Was it proven that he wasn’t texting and driving?

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